Women's Basketball

Faafiti honored by President Hurwitz for countless awards earned during the 2009-10 season

Apr 22, 2010

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Gallaudet University
President Alan Hurwitz held a special ceremony for
junior women’s basketball player Easter
Faafiti (Pittsburg, Calif.) on Thursday, April 22, to
congratulate her on her dozen awards she earned during the 2009-10
season. President Hurwitz officially presented Faafiti with her
Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) Player of the Year award. The
nice ceremony was held in the President’s office and attended
by Dean of Student Affairs Dwight Benedict and
Director of Athletics Michael Weinstock.

“Gallaudet University is very proud of you,” said
Hurwitz. “This [CAC POY] is a big honor following in the
likes of Ronda Jo Miller and Touria Ouahid. You have a bright
future ahead of you.”

Faafiti is the first Bison in nine years, since Ouahid in
2000-01, to take home the top CAC honor. Miller was a three-time
recipient from 1996-99, the only player to earn the CAC Player of
the Year award three consecutive years. Miller and Ouahid are both
in the GU Athletics Hall of Fame.

“Easter is a true leader and is very humble. She has been
a great student-athlete on and off the court. She helped to put GU
women’s basketball on the map,” said Benedict.

The ceremony for especially touching for Faafiti who was first
to point out that none of these accomplishments wouldn’t be
possible without her teammates. Faafiti took home countless awards
this past season including being named an All-American honorable
mention by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association.

“I am speechless. This is my first time meeting our new
President here at Gallaudet,” said Faafiti. “Without my
teammates none of this would be possible. I am really
blessed.”

Faafiti, a junior-college transfer from Pasadena City College,
led the CAC in scoring (19.1 points per game), rebounding (11.1 per
game), field goal percentage (.597), offensive rebounds (5.1 per
game) and was second in steals (3.3 per game) and fourth in
defensive rebounds (6.0). Nationally, Faafiti was ranked in several
categories among all NCAA Division III women's basketball programs
including; field goal percentage (10th overall), scoring (27th),
rebounding (30th) and steals (38th).

“We are very proud of Easter and all of her
accomplishments she earned this past season. I expect her to have
continued success in the future,” said Weinstock.

Gallaudet had a breakout season as the Bison posted a 14-12
record, the most wins in a decade, and earned the sixth-seed in the
CAC tournament. GU made its first appearance in the CAC tournament
since the 2006-07 season. This is the last year for Gallaudet in
the CAC as the Bison are leaving for the North Eastern Athletic
Conference (NEAC) this summer. GU is a charter member of the CAC
since the conference formed in 1989.

Faafiti will look to lead the Bison into the NEAC next season
and a scary thought for future opponents is that she thinks her
game will continue to improve and get better.

“I am ready to step things up next year. I need to
continue to improve my game. I will be ready for next year,”
said Faafiti.